Security News > 2022 > September > San Francisco cops can use private cameras to live-monitor 'significant events'

San Francisco police are now set to use non-city-owned video cameras for real-time surveillance under a rule approved by the Board of Supervisors.

The controversial policy [PDF] allows the US West Coast city's cops to use privately owned surveillance cameras and camera networks to conduct investigations as well as to live monitor "Significant events with public safety concerns" and investigations relating to active misdemeanor and felony violations.

Using private security cameras for police surveillance has been championed by Mayor London Breed ever since last November's wild weekend of orchestrated burglaries and theft in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Under the city's existing law, the police can only request historical - non-live - footage from private cameras related to specific times and locations, rather than blanket monitoring.

Hussain pointed to this lawsuit, plus alleged police surveillance during San Francisco's Pride parades, as two real-life implications of how the new policy can be used to target under-represented groups and people attending protests.

"Police should not be given access to the thousands of private cameras in our city to surround communities, protests, or city blocks with live surveillance," she said, echoing a series of tweets the organization posted after Tuesday's vote.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/09/21/san_francisco_private_cameras/